Greyhounds: Brilliance from Blaze in Track Bookmakers Final at Lifford

With no racing at Brandywell on Monday past, the local patrons had to head to Lifford to catch up with the latest greyhound action where there was some terrific racing over the weekend on show.

The feature on Friday night was the final of the Track Bookmakers S2/S3 325, which was landed by the exceptional Astro Blaze owned by the Sporting Chance Syndicate. A popular winner for local trainer, Paul Magee, Astro Blaze is a lightning starter when on-song and after being reeled in late in the semis, he wasn’t to suffer the same fate twice.

Running from trap four, the 3/1 chance bolted from boxes to clock a rapid 4.31 sectional and the son of Magical Bale and Astro Aoife was imperious thereafter as he held on in the closing stages to see off Promises To Keep. Three parts of a length separating the duo, the time was a fast 17.53.

In race three, Heathlawn Best made it three career wins for owner Martin Kelly and trainer Gerry Tynan. A brother of Tip Off, who won impressively a few weeks prior, the son of Ballymac Best and Blackstone May pinged out from trap one and posted a serious 4.28 early split.

Maintaining a powerful gallop around the bottom two bends, Tynan’s charge was joined by Devon Chime in the final strides, however, Best’s determination was enough to grab the win. Crossing over a neck too strong, the time was a slick 17.64.

Ahead of Friday night’s card, the standout bet was Louder and she fully justified her generous starting price of 4/5. Owned and trained by Charles Coyle, this bitch had been keeping much better company in prior starts and she made her intentions clear from the outset with a swift exit from trap three.

Friday: Race 4 - LYNAS A5 525 was won by LOUDER in 28.88. Pictured with Ciaran Coyle (left) & Shane Coyle. Photo by John Killen.

In no danger thereafter, the daughter of Magical Bale and Kuma Mary Lou raced to a facile five and three parts of a length victory over Spivey Joe in second. The time was a very smart 28.88.

Performance of the night

The performance of the night over the two-bend trip was that of Rackethall Nando in the penultimate race of the night. Owned by Anthony Boyd, the strapping brindle came into the event having posted 17.86 on his last start when winning, however, he improved substantially to ensure he will be keeping open class company next time around.

5/2 at the off, the son of Airmount Nando and Leamaneigh Breda pinged from five and quickly put the contest to bed within a matter of strides. Running to a virtual solo, ‘Nando’ powered up the Lifford hill to run out just shy of six lengths clear of Mainstreet Ace in second. The time was a blistering 17.49.

In the concluding race on Friday night, Illnotbethere got her head in front for the first time since March. Known for her flying finishes, the Tony Maxwell-trained runner, owned by Gerard McGettigan, stalked the leaders for large parts of her 525 contest and delivered her customary power-packed finish to record a seventh career victory.

Sunday: Race 8 - The GOODNIGHT AND SAFE HOME A3 525 was won by BRASSNECK BROCK in 29.11. From left; Keeva Bell, & winning owners Conor Colby & Martin Healy.

Running out an emphatic three and a half-length winner over Dusty Dan in second, the time for the daughter of Droopys Nidge was 28.93.

Action from Sunday evening at Lifford

On Sunday night, further top-class displays were on offer, however, the standout performer was that of the Ann Breslin-owned Izzys Jimmy. In a race that Gortin Sid dominated in betting terms, there was really only one winner once ‘Jimmy’ stepped out lively from trap four to post a hugely impressive 4.20 sectional.

In charge on the run to the bend, trouble in behind saw the son of King Sheeran go clear and there were never any doubts surrounding the outcome thereafter.

While Donegal and Jim McGuinness suffered at the hands of Cork over the weekend, this ‘Jimmy’ got things right for his Fermanagh connections as he raced to a four and a half-length victory over the luckless Tinas Woody in second. The time was a scorching 17.45.

Over the standard trip, the mantle of fastest performer went to Brassneck Brock in the finale. Jointly owned by Derry owners Conor Colby and Martin Healy, ‘Brock’ had faced some difficult assignments in recent weeks, however, showed excellent determination to score an eighth career victory. 7/4 at the off, the son of Ballymac Cooper and Hot Jamaica showed fine early dash to build up a commanding lead and although challenged in the closing stages by Run On Then, he was the gamer of the pair and stuck out his neck to win. The time was 29.11.

Sunday: Race 1 - The WELCOME TO LIFFORD STADIUM S6/S7 325 was won by EASY OJO in 17.54. With owner Barry Rocks & his son Tony Rocks.

The curtain raiser on the night proved all one-way traffic for Easy Ojo as he the very young December puppy made it two wins from just three career starts. A serious prospect, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Jumeirah Zena, owned by Barry Rocks, outpaced his rivals from trap five and he opened up in exceptional fashion to record a five and three parts of a length victory over Kielys Tiger in second. The time was 17.54.

Excellent

Another fine performance was recorded from the excellent litter of Broadstrand Bono and Sniper Ria in race five as Sniper Big Tom, owned by Kevin O’Kane, produced a masterclass of sprinting power. Ardnasool Rebel was all the rage prior to the off, however, in truth this was all over at the lift of the lid as ‘Big Tom’ finally got to grips at boxes. A 3/1 chance, in pinging out it was all over bar the shouting as the strapping blue excelled around the bottom two bends before drawing clear up the Lifford hill to record a six and a quarter length victory over the favourite in second. The time was 17.64

Janeke De-Baat is a popular figure at Lifford and she makes the long journey from Roscommon on a regular basis. Her home bred Aghaderry Bri absolutely loves his day trips to the venue and this handsome son of Pestana and Lowgate Belatrix has a fantastic personality as well as being a classy athlete.

Friday: Race 8 - GOODNIGHT AND SAFE HOME A3 525 was won by IllNOTBETHERE in 28.93. Front left is winning owner Gerard McGettigan with trainer Tony Maxwell. Photo by John Killen.

On the third race on the programme over 525 yards, Bri trapped fast from the 3 box and was hot on the heels of the early leader Bumblebee Marian as the pair approached the first turn. Bri belied his 6/1 odds and made his race winning move at the third bend when overtaking Marian on her outside and he ran on well to clock 29.71 and hold off the late charge of Longrange Cian by 1.5 lengths.

Racing will be back on track at the Brandywell on Monday 10th June with more heats of competitions in the run up to the Annual Track Lotto Gala Night which is scheduled for the end of June.